Animal Life

Due to the isolation of the country, there has been little change in its animal life. Most of the animal species have been introduced and it is thought that only one type of mammal, the fox (locally called "tófan"), had its home in Iceland prior to human settlement. The other mammals have been brought to Iceland since settlement. These include the sheep, which has often kept people alive during difficult times, and the horse, most likely the best-known of animals in Iceland.

Reindeer were introduced to Iceland in the eighteenth-century and now number around 3000. They are the only type of deer to be found in Iceland and live on the heath lands to the north and east of Vatnajökull.

The rivers and lakes of Iceland abound with a rich stock of fish and salmon and trout fishing are popular sports. The bird life is rather diverse in the country and along the coastline. The coastal waters are home to great biological diversity, and here too Icelanders have often sought life-saving sustenance.